Latest news with #FredBestClassic
Courier-Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Zac booked for mission to score consecutive Stradbroke Handicaps
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Young Sydney riding gun Zac Lloyd has a golden opportunity to become the first jockey since the great Jimmy Cassidy more than three decades ago to win back-to-back Stradbroke Handicaps. But Lloyd, who scored his first Group 1 when pinching last year's Stradbroke on Stefi Magnetica, must help haul three-year-old colt Bosustow back to the imposing form which saw him be a six-length winner two starts ago. Bosustow, the three-year-old colt who destroyed his opposition in the Gold Coast Guineas, was single figure odds in Stradbroke betting markets before he was well beaten in the rescheduled Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Doomben last Wednesday. Bosustow started the $2.45 Fred Best favourite but finished sixth, 1-1/2 lengths behind the Toby Edmonds and Stephen McLean-trained filly Spicy Martini which qualified for the Stradbroke with the win. Annabel and Rob Archibald are pushing on with Stradbroke plans for Bosustow which has now drifted to be a $15 chance in Queensland's greatest race next Saturday. Managing owner Anthony Mithen points out that Bosustow was beaten about the same margin in the Fred Best as Stefi Magnetica was a year earlier, before that horse came out and won the Stradbroke with Lloyd on board. Lloyd has been booked for Bosustow and now gets a chance to be the first jockey since Cassidy won the Stradbroke on the mighty Rough Habit in 1991 and 1992 to score consecutive Stradbroke triumphs. Lloyd will link with Bosustow for the first time and Rob Archibald remains convinced the colt can be a major player in the Stradbroke. 'Maybe the Fred Best run was just a little bit below what we expected, but we weren't too disappointed,' Archibald said. 'He was a month between runs and the race was rescheduled and things were mucked around a little bit. 'He may have been just a touch underdone second-up, but he can certainly bounce back third-up in the Stradbroke. 'He gets into the Stradbroke with a nice weight (51.5kg) although it's all relative I suppose. 'Zac hasn't ridden him before, but he did win the Stradbroke last year and we are really happy to have him on.' Bosustow wins the Gold Coast Guineas. Picture: Bethany Allday/Trackside Photography. Lloyd will jet into Brisbane on Tuesday morning and give Bosustow a spin around Eagle Farm at the Stradbroke 'Breakfast With The Stars' trackwork session. There is a week of fine weather forecast for Brisbane and the prospects of a rain-affected Eagle Farm track on Stradbroke day look slim. Bosustow was dominant in the Gold Coast Guineas on a heavy (9) track but the camp say he is much more than just a wet tracker. On the morning of the Guineas, they had even been considering scratching Bosustow because they weren't convinced he would handle the sloppy surface. 'He ended up handling the wet track on the Gold Coast really well,' Archibald said. 'But I don't think we can really say yet what his preferred track conditions are, because he is fairly lightly raced.' Originally published as Zac Lloyd on rare quest to score consecutive Stradbroke Handicaps
Mercury
6 days ago
- Business
- Mercury
$8000 filly earns shot at Stradbroke Handicap with Fred Best Classic win
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Stradbroke Handicap has its latest rags to riches fairytale … and she walks like a duck. Three-year-old filly Spicy Martini, who was snapped up for a barely believable price of just $8000 as a yearling by Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds, surged into Queensland's most prestigious race by scoring the Fred Best Classic at Doomben on Wednesday. Spicy Martini went through an online sale and was sold at a bargain-basement rate because of concerns over her X-rays, despite being a daughter of US champion Justify. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! But Toby Edmonds backed his judgement and secured the filly for a fraction of Justify's $250,000 yearling sales average at the time. Spicy Martini now has a shot at the $1.8m first prize of the Group 1 Stradbroke at Eagle Farm on Saturday week, with her win in the Fred Best earning her a golden ticket into Queensland's most prestigious race. Edmonds has won the Stradbroke before, snaring his first Group 1 when Tyzone claimed the 2020 edition although that was a vastly different race with Covid restrictions playing their part. Toby Edmonds trained the 2020 Stradbroke winner with his son Trent but now Toby and new training partner Stephen McLean have a shot at claiming Queensland racing's biggest prize. Spicy Martini's Stradbroke odds were slashed from $101 to $21 after her Fred Best win and the filly will carry the featherweight of just 49.5kg. Spicy Martini will need a new jockey with Craig Williams unable to make 49.5kg but that was the least of Edmonds' worries on Wednesday as he was overcome with emotion. 'If you have a look at her, she walks like a duck,' Edmonds said. 'She has quite a few issues and takes a lot of managing, but she is very quick. 'We found her online, a Justify filly, which we generally weren't able to buy because they were too dear, but this one just came up. 'This one was one that (breeding giants) Coolmore couldn't put through the sales. 'She is workmanlike, there's nothing flash about her at all. 'She is honest, she is in the Stradbroke now with 49.5 (kg) and I'm very keen to run her as long as she pulls up well.' The Fred Best for three-year-olds was rescheduled from last Saturday when an Eagle Farm downpour and poor visibility caused several races to be called off. Champion jockey Williams said the rescheduling of the race added to the stature of the win. He predicted Spicy Martini would make her presence felt in the Stradbroke. Craig Williams with trainer Toby Edmonds after the win of Spicy Martini. Picture: Trackside Photography 'Everyone that was in this race today had the challenge of being there last Saturday but coming back today,' Williams said. 'It's a great intuitive by Racing Queensland to have this race exempt from ballot from the Stradbroke. 'Toby and his team now have 10 days to get this filly to the Stradbroke in good form. 'Toby asked if I could ride at 49.5 (kg), I said I could have when I was 18 but I can't now.' There had been strong late money for Spicy Martini in the Fred Best, backed from $15 into $10. Bosustow, who won the Gold Coast Guineas by six lengths at his previous start, finished a disappointing sixth after appearing to have every chance. Annabel and Rob Archibald's Queensland stable foreman Todd Pollard said there were no post-race issues found with the colt. Bosustow eased from $9 to $21 in Stradbroke betting and now connections must decide whether to tackle the Stradbroke. Exciting Lindsay Park galloper War Machine firmed even further as Stradbroke top pick on Wednesday without even racing, now a $3 favourite after starting the day at $4. Originally published as $8000 filly earns shot at Stradbroke Handicap with Fred Best Classic win
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
$8000 filly earns shot at Stradbroke Handicap with Fred Best Classic win
The Stradbroke Handicap has its latest rags to riches fairytale … and she walks like a duck. Three-year-old filly Spicy Martini, who was snapped up for a barely believable price of just $8000 as a yearling by Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds, surged into Queensland's most prestigious race by scoring the Fred Best Classic at Doomben on Wednesday. Spicy Martini went through an online sale and was sold at a bargain-basement rate because of concerns over her X-rays, despite being a daughter of US champion Justify. But Toby Edmonds backed his judgement and secured the filly for a fraction of Justify's $250,000 yearling sales average at the time. Spicy Martini now has a shot at the $1.8m first prize of the Group 1 Stradbroke at Eagle Farm on Saturday week, with her win in the Fred Best earning her a golden ticket into Queensland's most prestigious race. Edmonds has won the Stradbroke before, snaring his first Group 1 when Tyzone claimed the 2020 edition although that was a vastly different race with Covid restrictions playing their part. Toby Edmonds trained the 2020 Stradbroke winner with his son Trent but now Toby and new training partner Stephen McLean have a shot at claiming Queensland racing's biggest prize. Spicy Martini's Stradbroke odds were slashed from $101 to $21 after her Fred Best win and the filly will carry the featherweight of just 49.5kg. Time to celebrate! That's a spicy win for Spicy Martini in the G3 Fred Best Classic at Doomben 🙌 🌶ï¸� @CWilliamsJockey | @EdmondsRacing | @BrisRacingClub â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 4, 2025 Spicy Martini will need a new jockey with Craig Williams unable to make 49.5kg but that was the least of Edmonds' worries on Wednesday as he was overcome with emotion. 'If you have a look at her, she walks like a duck,' Edmonds said. 'She has quite a few issues and takes a lot of managing, but she is very quick. 'We found her online, a Justify filly, which we generally weren't able to buy because they were too dear, but this one just came up. 'This one was one that (breeding giants) Coolmore couldn't put through the sales. 'She is workmanlike, there's nothing flash about her at all. 'She is honest, she is in the Stradbroke now with 49.5 (kg) and I'm very keen to run her as long as she pulls up well.' The Fred Best for three-year-olds was rescheduled from last Saturday when an Eagle Farm downpour and poor visibility caused several races to be called off. Champion jockey Williams said the rescheduling of the race added to the stature of the win. He predicted Spicy Martini would make her presence felt in the Stradbroke. 'Everyone that was in this race today had the challenge of being there last Saturday but coming back today,' Williams said. 'It's a great intuitive by Racing Queensland to have this race exempt from ballot from the Stradbroke. 'Toby and his team now have 10 days to get this filly to the Stradbroke in good form. 'Toby asked if I could ride at 49.5 (kg), I said I could have when I was 18 but I can't now.' There had been strong late money for Spicy Martini in the Fred Best, backed from $15 into $10. Bosustow, who won the Gold Coast Guineas by six lengths at his previous start, finished a disappointing sixth after appearing to have every chance. Annabel and Rob Archibald's Queensland stable foreman Todd Pollard said there were no post-race issues found with the colt. Bosustow eased from $9 to $21 in Stradbroke betting and now connections must decide whether to tackle the Stradbroke. Exciting Lindsay Park galloper War Machine firmed even further as Stradbroke top pick on Wednesday without even racing, now a $3 favourite after starting the day at $4.
New Paper
7 days ago
- Business
- New Paper
Jenni's Meadow all set for G1 Queensland Oaks
BRISBANE - An excellent lead-up run on May 24 has given Lindsay Park every indication Jenni's Meadow is one of the horses to beat in the A$700,000 (S$584,000) Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2,200m) at Eagle Farm on June 7. For all its success in Victoria, the famous Lindsay Park Racing operation - now run by the Hayes brothers, Ben, and twins J.D. and Will - has not yet won a Group 1 race in Queensland since the days of their father, David, and grandfather, Colin. Jenni's Meadow will spearhead a strong team for the Hayes brothers, on a day where the A$1 million Group 1 Queensland Derby (2,400m), A$1 million Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1,300m) and the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1,200m) will also be run. Due to the ongoing wet weather and jockeys' concerns over the kickback and poor visibility, authorities decided to postpone the remaining four races - the Queensland Derby, Kingsford Smith Cup, Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1,400m) and Helen Coughlan Stakes - from the Queensland Derby day on May 31. While three of the races will be run on June 7, the Fred Best Classic will be held at Doomben on June 4. The Hayes brothers will be represented in all three Group races on June 7, with Rise At Dawn in the Kingsford Smith Cup and filly Chase Your Dreams taking on the boys in the Queensland Derby. Ben Hayes believes Jenni's Meadow - a daughter of Brutal - has been trained to the minute for the Queensland Oaks off her slashing last-start second to Philia in the Group 2 The Roses (2,000m) at Doomben on May 24. "We're very happy with her," Hayes said of the three-year-old filly. "It was a huge run in The Roses, and I think, arguably, she was probably the run of the race. She was strong to the line, made a long, sustained run, and it looked perfect for 2,200m." After Jenni's Meadow drew outside barriers 13 and 14 in her last two starts, Hayes thought she could have beaten the David Vandyke-trained Philia in The Roses, and is looking forward to a rematch, especially after pulling out marble one this time. "She's been a bit unlucky this prep with wide barriers, and it has cost her. I think with a couple of better barriers and better runs in transit, she would have gone close," said Hayes. "I don't think the barrier is all important, but a gate would definitely help, and I know (jockey) Ethan (Brown) was rapt with her run in The Roses. "But she's building up beautifully. This has always been the target with her; to hopefully try and get her to a race like the Queensland Oaks. So we're arriving fourth-up, ready to go. "She's a Listed winner as a young horse, placed in a Group 3 last preparation and now she's placed in a Group 2, so we need to get that good 'black type' win. "She deserves to be there and has a great chance." Jenni's Meadow, who finished second in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2,000m) in 2024, is a 6-1 chance on the third line of betting for the Queensland Oaks. Brown will take the ride on her again. Philia, who holds favouritism at 5-2 despite drawing barrier 16 for jockey Kerrin McEvoy, will jump from gate 13 if the emergency acceptors fail to get a run. The Glen Thompson-trained Benagil is the second favourite at 5-1, and has drawn barrier 5 with regular jockey Mark Zahra aboard. While Jenni's Meadow prepares for her first shot at Group 1 glory on Saturday for connections of Cape Schanck Racing, managed by owner Tony Ottobre, her better-known stablemate Pride Of Jenni is returning to Melbourne for a spell after her last unplaced run in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2,000m) on May 24. Trained by Ciaron Maher, the 2024 Australian Horse of the Year led in the field of 12 but quickly capitulated upon turning into the straight, fading to run 10th behind eventual winner Antino. Pride Of Jenni also did not fare well in her other Group 1 assignment, the Australian Cup (2,000m), in 2025. She finished ninth to stablemate Light Infantry Man at Flemington on March 29. Ottobre has dispatched one of his staff members to Queensland to accompany Pride Of Jenni back to his property on the Mornington Peninsula. The memorable runaway winner of the 2024 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,000m) will be joined by stablemate Jennilala on the trip home. Ottobre wants to get the seven-year-old daughter of Pride Of Dubai back to his farm to assess her before a final decision is made on her future. But retirement plans are the furthest thing from his mind at this stage as he hopes to have the 10-time winner in Sydney for the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1,600m) at Randwick in October. "I know she's really good at 1,600m. We're in it for racing. We're not in it for anything else but we'll be making sure the horse is fine," said Ottobre. "But to go to something like the King Charles, she has to be in great order, and she has to be in a mood of wanting to race. "If she's in that way, I will ask Ciaron's permission to train her for that. At this stage, nothing is off the deck." Since resuming this year, Pride Of Jenni has produced one of her finest performances first-up in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1,800m) at Caulfield on March 15, followed by another win in the Listed Anniversary Vase (1,600m) at Caulfield on May 3. SKY RACING WORLD
Herald Sun
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Tony Gollan turns to Blake Shinn in bid to win Stradbroke Handicap golden ticket
Blake Shinn and Tony Gollan combined for an exhilarating Group 1 triumph last weekend and they will hopefully unite again for another major mission at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Racing's dream team of Blake Shinn and Tony Gollan could be back in business for another major mission on Saturday. A week after Antino was a Group 1 Doomben Cup destroyer, the superstar Victorian jockey has been booked for a bid to try to qualify a progressive Gollan three-year-old for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. However, there is a hurdle with Shinn on Tuesday revealing he had sustained a minor injury and would take a step back from riding engagements in coming days. But he will do everything possible to be riding at Eagle Farm on Saturday. • Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg Polson and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro! Apprentice Emily Lang, who leads the Brisbane jockeys' premiership race by eight wins, has ridden Boomtown Boss in his last three starts and has ridden the gelding to all four of his career wins. Boomtown Boss also provided a huge moment in Lang's young career when she secured her first Stakes winner, riding him to score in the Listed Daybreak Lover in April. But Shinn, assuming he is fit, gets the job on Saturday as a Stradbroke Handicap golden ticket is offered up for the winner of the Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm. — Blake Shinn (@blake_shinn) May 27, 2025 • 'He'll be competitive': Bosustow weighted to win Straddie Boomtown Boss had been a winning machine before a wide barrier and stretching out to the 1600m of the Group 2 Queensland Guineas found him out last start. Gollan thinks back to 1400m is a key and he revealed he would love to give Boomtown Boss a shot at Queensland's most prestigious race. 'Absolutely, I would love to run him in the Stradbroke if he won on Saturday and pulled up well,' Gollan said. 'In the Guineas, he drew wide and went wider on a day where it was a disadvantage to do that. 'A mile was the outer limits of his distance range, for sure, but he is back to the sweet spot of his distance range. 'The 1400(m) at Eagle Farm looks ideal for him. He looks well placed in what is going to be a good race. 'He is a work in progress and he is still doing a fair bit wrong.' • 'Mixed emotions': Collett will head back home to New Zealand In TAB's all-in betting market ahead of the Fred Best Classic barrier draw on Wednesday, Boomtown Boss is a $13 chance. Hype horse Angel Capital, which will have his first start for Chris Waller since being transferred from Clinton McDonald, is the $3.60 favourite. Meanwhile, Gollan indicated it was onwards and upwards for Antino after his blockbuster Group 1 win last Saturday. Antino was allotted 58kg when the Stradbroke Handicap weights were revealed on Monday, but he has been sent for a spell with a Cox Plate spring mission now the priority. Antino is on the second line of Cox Plate betting at $8, with Via Sistina the $2.50 favourite. Renowned ratings guru Daniel O'Sullivan said of Antino's Doomben Cup romp: 'He clearly stamped himself as the second-best horse in the country (behind Via Sistina). All going well, it shapes as a blockbuster clash between the two in this year's G1 WFA Cox Plate.' • NZ greyhounds launch High Court challenge over ban Gollan said on Tuesday: 'Antino has pulled up great, although he was a bit tired Saturday night after the run which is understandable when you run track record pace. 'He will have a short break, maybe three weeks off, and then we will probably kick him off in the Memsie Stakes. 'What happened last Saturday has definitely sunk in now. 'It's now all about planning for the next mission.' Originally published as Tony Gollan turns to Blake Shinn in bid to win Stradbroke Handicap golden ticket with Boomtown Boss in Fred Best Classic Horse Racing Giga Kick's trainer Clayton Douglas has given a telling insight into his champion horse after giving him a spin around Eagle Farm ahead of the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup. Horse Racing The fields and barrier draws for Saturday's Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup and Queensland Derby have been released.
